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30th Congress, [SENATE,] Executive., 

1st Session. No. 47. 



MESSAGE 

OF THE 

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, 

IN RELATION 

To the Indian difficulties in Oregon. 



March 29, 1848, 
Read, referred to the Committee on Military Affairs, and ordered to be printed. 

To the Senate mid House of Representatives of the United States: 

I lay before Congress the accompanying memorial and papers^ 
which have been transmitted to me, by a special messenger em- 
ployed for that purpose, by the governor and legislative assembly 
of Oregon territory, who constitute the temporary government 
which the inhabitants of that distant region of our country have 3 
from the necessity of their condition, organized for themselves. 
The memorialists are citizens of the United States. They express 
ardent attachment to their native land, and in their present perilous 
and distressed situation they earnestly invoke the aid and protec- 
tion of their government. 

They represent that "the proud and powerful tribes of Indians," 
residing in their vicinity, have recently raised "the war whoop ? 
and crimsoned their tomahawks in the blood of their citizens;' 5 that 
they apprehend that "many of the powerful tribes, inhabiting the 
upper valley of the Columbia, have formed an alliance for the pur- 
pose of carrying on hostilities against their settlements;' 7 that the 
number of the white population is far inferior to that of the sav- 
ages; that they are deficient in arms and money, and fear that they 
do not possess strength to repel the "attack of so formidable a foe 
and protect their families and property from violence and rapine;" 
they conclude their appeal to the government of the United States 
for relief by declaring: "If it be at all the intention of our hon- 
ored parent to spread her guardian wing over her sons and daugh- 
ters in Oregon, she surely will not refuse to do it now, when they 
are struggling with all the ills of a weak and temporary govern- 
ment, and when perils are daily thickening around them, and pre- 
paring to burst upon their heads. When the ensuing summer's sub 
shall have dispelled the snow from the mountains, we shall look,, 
with glowing hope and restless anxiety, for the coming of your laws 
and your arms," 



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In my message of the 5th of August, 1846, communicating "a copy 
of the convention for the settlement and adjustment of the Oregon 
boundary," 1 recommended to Congress that "provision should be 
made by law, at the earliest practicable period, for the organization 
of a territorial government in Oregon." In my annual message of 
December, 1846, and again in December, 1847, this recommendation 
was repeated. 

The population of Oregon is believed to exceed twelve thousand 
souls, and it is known that it will be increased by a large number 
of emigrants during the present season. The facts set forth in the 
accompanying memorial and papers show that the dangers to which 
our fellow citizens are exposed are so imminent, that I deem it to 
be my duty again to impress on Congress the strong claim which 
the inhabitants of that distant country have to the benefit of our 
laws, and to the protection of our government. 

I, therefore, again invite the attention of Congress to the sub- 
ject, and recommend that laws be promptly passed establishing a 
territorial government, and granting authority to raise an adequate 
-volunteer force, for the defence and protection of its inhabitants. 
It is believed that a regiment of mounted men, with such additional 
force as may be raised in Oregon, will be sufficient to afford the 
required protection. It is recommended that the forces raised for 
this purpose should engage to serve for twelve months, unless 
sooner discharged. No doubt is entertained that, with proper in- 
ducements in land bounties, such a force can be raised in a short 
time. Upon the expiration of their service, many of them will 
doubtless desire to remain in the country and settle upon the land 
which they may receive as bounty. It is deemed important that 
provision be made for the appointment of a suitable number of 
Indian agents, to reside among the various tribes in Oregon, and 
that appropriations be made to enable them to treat with these 
tribes, with a view to restore and preserve peace between them and 
the white inhabitants. 

Should the laws recommended be promptly passed, the measures 
for their execution may be completed during the present season, 
and before the severity of winter will interpose obstacles in cross- 
ing the Rocky mountains. If not promptly passed a delay of an- 
other year will be the consequence, and may prove destructive to 
the white settlements in Oregon. 

JAMES K. POLK. 

Washington, May 29, 1848.. 



Oregon City, December 29, 1847. 

Sir- The bearer, Joseph L. Meek, esq., has been appointed by 
the legislature of Oregon territory a special messenger, to carry 
despatches to Washington city; his journey will be an arduous one, 



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and I would recommend him to the favorable notice of your excel- 
lency. J 

I have the honor to remain, sir, your obedient servant, 

GEO. ABERNETHY, 

Governor of Oregon Territory, 

To his Excellency James K. Polk, 

President of the United States. 



To the honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled: 

Gentlemen: It is made my duty to forward to your honorable 
body the memorial passed by the legislature of Oregon, and the 
papers containing the documents referred to in the memorial, all 
of which is enclosed herewith. 

I have the honor to remain, gentlemen, your obedient servant. 

GEO. ABERNETHY, 
Governor of Oregon Territory, 
Oregon City, December 29, 1847, 



To the honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America, in Congress assembled: 

Your memorialists, the legislative assembly of Oregon territory 
would respectfully beg leave once more to lay before your honora- 
ble body a brief statement of their situation and wants. 
. Havi "g called upon the government of the United States so 'often 
in vain, we have almost despaired of receiving its protection, yet 
we trust that our present situation, when fully laid before you, will 
at once satisfy your honorable body of the great necessity of ex- 
tending the strong arm of guardianship and protection over this 
remote but beautiful and valuable portion of the United States 
dominion. 

Our relations with the proud and powerful tribes of Indians resi- 
ding east of the Cascade mountains, hitherto uniformly amicable 
and pacific, have recently assumed quite a different character- they 
have shouted the war-whoop and crimsoned their tomahawks in the 
blood of our citizens. The Kayuse tribe, after committing nume- 
rous outrages and robberies upon the late emigrants, have, without 
the semblance of provocation or excuse, murdered eleven American 
citizens; among the number were Doctor Marcus Whitman and 
his amiable wife, members of the American board of foreign 
missions. ° 

Called upon to resent this outrage, we feel sensibly our weakness 
and inability to enter into a war with powerful tribes of Indians, 
buch outrages, however, cannot be suffered to pass unpunished; 
it will only be the commencement of further and more extensive 



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murders; and our hitherto peaceful settlements will become 
the scene of fierce and violent warfare. We do not doubt the rea- 
diness of the people of this country to defend their lives and pro- 
perty, and to submit to all the privations incident to a state of war 
In a new and remote settlement like this. 

Circumstances warrant your memorialists in believing that many 
of the powerful tribes, inhabiting the upper valley of the Colum- 
bia ? have formed an alliance for the purpose of carrying on hosti- 
lities against our settlements. 

The number of the white population of Oregon is alarmingly in- 
significant compared with the swarms of Indians whieii throng its 
valleys. To repel the attack of so formidable a foe, and protect 
our families and property from violence and rapine, will require, we 
fear, more strength than we possess. We are deficient in many of 
the grand essentials of war, such as men, arms and treasure; for 
them our sole reliance is on the government of the United States; 
we have the right to expect your aid, and you are in justice bound 
to extend it. For although we are separated from our native land 
by a range of mountains whose lofty altitudes are mantled in eter- 
nal snow; although three thousand miles (nearly two-thirds of 
which is a howling wild) lie between us and the federal capital, yet 
our hearts are unalienated from the land of our birth; our love 
for the free and noble institutions under which it was our fortune 
to be borne and nurtured remains unabated. In short, we are 
Americans still, residing in a country over which the government 
of the United States have the sole and acknowledged right of sov- 
ereignty; and, under such circumstances, we have the right to 
claim the benefit of its laws and protection. 

Your memorialists would avail themselves of this opportunity to 
invite your attention to other subjects of deep and vital interest 
to the citizens of this territory. The nature of our compact, 
formed between the citizens of a republic and the subjects and offi- 
cial representatives of a monarchy, is such that the ties of political 
union could not be drawn so closely as to produce that stability and 
strength sufficient to form an efficient government. This union 
between the democrats of a republic and wealthy aristocratic sub- 
jects of a monarchy, could not be formed without reserving 
to themselves the right of allegiance to their respective govern- 
ments. 

Political jealousy and strong party feeling have tended to thwart 
and render impotent the acts of a government, from its very nature, 
weak and inefficient. In establishing a regular form of government, 
and creating tribunals for the adjustment of the rights of individuals 
and the prevention and punishment of crime, a debt has accumulated, 
which, though an insignificant amount, your memorialists can devise 
bo means of liquidating. The revenue laws, from not beirg properly 
executed, while they are burdensome to classes of our citizens and 
sections of country, are wholly disregarded by others; and whole 
counties, which, for numerical strength, are equal to any in the 
territory, and fully participating in all the advantages of our com- 



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pact, have never contributed any assistance in bearing the common 
burden. 

To coerce obedience to our temporary government would at 
once destroy the great object which called it .into existence, the 
peace and harmony of our country. Anxiously looking forward to 
that happy period when we should again be under the protection 
of our revered and parent republic, we have rather endeavored to 
maintain peace by forbearance, than to command obedience by 
forc'ej hoping that the dangers and difficulties to be apprehended 
from domestic discord, -and from the savages around us, would be 
postponed until we became an acknowledged people, and under the 
protection of our mother country. 

The action of your honorable body, in regard to the lands in 
Oregon, would seem to justify the expectation that liberal grants 
would be made to our citizens; yet the uncertainty of our title, and 
the uneasiness which is felt upon this subject, urges us to press it 
upon your attention. 

Our citizens, before leaving their Siomes in the United States for 
Oregon, have had the strongest inducements held out by Congress 
to settle in this country, and their just expectations will not be 
met short of a liberal donation of land. 

On the subject of filling the offices that will be created in the 
event of the extension of the jurisdiction of the United States over 
this territory, your memorialists would respectfully represent, 
that, as the pioneers of the American population in this country, 
the present citizens of Oregon have strong claims upon the patron- 
age of the general government, and that it would be gratifying to 
iiave them filled by our fellow citizens; but, as few of an equally 
deserving number can enjoy this mark of approbation of our parent 
republic, and in view of our peculiar and difficult situation, it is 
the opinion of your memorialists, that it will be better for the 
future prosperity of our country, and that the great masses of the 
people will concur with them, in requesting that important and 
responsible offices created here, such as the office of governor and 
the several judgeships, should be filled with men of the best talent 
and most approved integrity, without regard to their present loca- 
tion. 

If it be at ail the intention of our honored parent to spread her 
guardian wing over her sons and daughters in Oregon, she surely 
will not refuse to do it now, when they are struggling with all the 
ills of a weak and temporary government, and when perils are daily 
thickening around them and preparing to burst upon their heads. 

When the ensuing summer's sun shall have dispelled the snow 
from the mountains, we shall look, with glowing hope and restless 
anxiety, for the coming of your laws and your arms. 

The accompanying documents will afford additional information 
concerning some of the subjects of which we have spoken. 

To insure the speedy conveyance of these papers to the federal 
government, your memorialists have elecied Joseph L. Meek, esq., 
a special messenger to the same, and respectfully ask your honor- 



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able body to make him such compensation therefor as you may 
deem right. And your memorialists will ever pray, & c . 

ROBERT NEWELL, 

Attest: Calvin W. Cooke. Clerk, • Speaker ° 



Extract from the governors message to the legislative assembly of 
Oregon, December 7, 18#7 e 

Contrary to the expectation of all who reside in this territory, you 
are again convened under the provisional government of Oregon. 

After learning that the boundary line question was settled, there 
was hardly a doubt resting in the mind of any individual with re- 
gard to the extension of the jurisdiction of the United States over 
this territory. We have been sadly disappointed, and hope, which 
was so fondly cherished, begins to sink into despair in the hearts 
of many. 

Our situation is not a very pleasant one, on account of the uncer- 
tainty attending it. We may be, in less than six months, under the 
laws and government of the United States; and we may, on the 
other hand, exist in our present state for several years. This un- 
certainty will no doubt embarrass you in your proceedings. 

If we remain as we are for any length of time, ways and means 
must be devised for raising a more extensive revenue. The laws 
should be published in a convenient form; a fund set apart for 
treating with Indians; and many other things provided for that we 
have thus far dispensed with, but which must be attended to, in 
order that we may carry out the principles under which we have 
associated. 

This being the first session of the present Congress, they will 
have more time to devote to the formation of a government for 
this territory than at the last session. The probability is that peace 
between the United States and Mexico will have been restored, and 
relieve Congress from the cares and anxieties attendant upon a 
war, and also relieve the government from the very heavy expense 
which must necessarily attend the carrying on of a war. These 
things lead to the hope that among the first acts of Congress will be 
the passage of an act to establish a territorial government in Oregon. 
This will release us from our present embarrassments, and place us 
under a permanent form of government. Hoping that this may be 
the case, I will call your attention to such subjects as are most 
pressing in their character, and which cannot well be dispensed 
with. 

* * * # - : * . ; ■ '. #, •" v * 

Our relation with the Indians becomes every year more embar- 
rassing. They see the white man occupying their lands — rapidly 
filling up the country, and they put in a claim for pay. They have 
been told that a chief would come out from the United States and 
treat with them for their lands. They have been told this so often 



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; that they begin to doubt the truth of it. At all events, they say, 
" he will not come until we are all dead, and then what good will 
blankets do us? We want something now." This leads to trouble 

1 between the settler and the Indians about him. Some plan should 
be devised by which a fund can be raised, and presents made to the 
Indians of sufficient value to keep them quiet, until an agent arrives 
.from the United States. 

A number of robberies have been committed by the Indians in 
the upper country on the immigrants, as they were passing through 
their territory. This should not be allowed to pass. An appro- 

l priation should be made by you sufficient to enable the superin- 
tendent of Indian affairs to take a small party in the spring and 
demand restitution of the property, or its equivalent in horses. 
Without an appropriation a sufficient party could not be induced to 
go up there, as the trip is an expensive one. 

The immigration the past season has been much larger than any 
preceeding one— amounting to between four and five thousand souls. 
They have ail arrived in the settlements, unless there should be a 

ij few families si ill at the Dails and Cascades, and scattered them- 
selves over the territory. The majority of them are farmers and 
mechanics. They will add much to the future, welfare and pros- 
perity of Oregon. 

During the past season we have been visited by a number of ves- 
sels; some of them drawing more water than the vessels that have 

| usually visited us. lam happy to say they received full cargoes 

! on board and crossed the bar in safety. The provisions of the pilot 

| law have been carried out, and its good effects are already visible. 
The able pilot at the mouth of the river has made himself fully 
acquainted with the channel and currents, thus diminishing the 

j dangers that formerly attended* vessels coming to the river The 
time is not far distant when our river will be entered with more 
ease and facility than many of the ports in the United States on 

|; the Atlantic coast, and captains will wonder why the entrance was 
so much dreaded, forgetting that they are reaping the benefits of 
experience. 



Proclamation by Geo. Mernetky, Governor of Oregon Territory. 

In consequence of the low state of the finances of this country, 
and the general impression being that the Indians in the upper 
country were not united, a small force was thought sufficient to 
proceed to Walla Walla to punish the Cay use Indians, and a p~o- 
| clamation was issued by me for one hundred men; since which, in- 
formation has been received here which leads to the belief that the 
Indians have united, and the force ordered out in that case being 
insufficient, I therefore call on the citizens of this territory to 
furnish five hundred men, and appoint the following persons brevet 
captains, to enrol such citizens as may wish to enlist J viz: 

Wesley Shannon, John Ford, Thomas McKay— Cbampoeg coun- 



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ty. John Owens, Wm. Williams, John Stewart— Polk county. 
Philip Thompson, George Nelson, Felix Scott—Yam Hill county! 
Isaac W. Smith, Benj. Q. Tucker— Tualatin county, James Officer 
—Clackamas county. 

The enlistments to be for six months, unless sooner discharged by 
proclamation. 

Each man will furnish his own horse, arms, clothing and blank- 
ets. The companies will bring all the ammunition, percussion 
caps, and camp equipage they can, for which they will receive a 
receipt from the commissary general. 

Colonel Cornelius Gilliam will remain at Oregon city until the 
first companies arrive at Portland, when he will take command and 
proceed forthwith to Walla Walla. 

Lieutenant Colonel James Waters will remain until the rear 
companies arrive at or near Portland, when he will take the com- 
mand and proceed to Walla Walla. 

Companies will rendevous at Portland, or opposite Portland, on 
or before^ the 8th day of January, 1848. Whenever a sufficient 
number of volunteers arrive on the ground at Portland, they will 
organize and proceed to elect their officers, viz: one captain, one 
first lieutenant, one second lieutenant, one orderly sergeant, and 
four duty sergeants.' 

Companies will consist of eighty-five men rank and file. If any 
company should be formed in the counties, smaller or larger, they 
will be regulated after they arrive on the ground. 

As the commissary general will not be able to furnish, a sufficient 
quantity of provisions for the army, the citizens of the territory are 
called on to deliver to his agents all the provisions they can, that 
the operations of the troops may not be impeded for want of pro- 
visions, Agents will be appointed, by him at Salam, Yam Hill 
Ferry, Champoeg, Bute, and Portland. 

In witness whereof, I have signed my name and affix- 

[l, s.] ed the seal of the territory at Oregon city, this 25th 
day of December, 1847= 

GEO, ABERNETHY. • 



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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

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